A national model for youth outreach programs, The Neutral Zone, in Ann Arbor Michigan, is a supportive youth-driven teen center that provides youth with enriching hands-on workshops that promote personal growth through artistic expression, community leadership and the exchange of ideas. In the following interview, we talk with The Neutral Zone's Director John Weiss and teen member Ryan Shea, and discuss how The Neutral Zone became the perfect example of Awesome Outreach.
Can you tell us a little bit about Ann Arbor's Neutral Zone and how the organization originated?
The Neutral Zone officially incorporated in 1998 (that makes us 13 years old, now the NZ is a teenager). The planning began before 1998, however, when a series of community conversations and needs surveys were conducted to find out what the area needed to support its teen population. Interesting enough, youth where helping to lead those conversations and were the ones that pushed the community to consider creating a “cool” place teens could call their own.
The adults supported the notion because being in a university town, teens can be tempted by all of the lure of college life (fraternity parties, bars) and the adults felt that having a good alternative would help to draw teens away from those temptations. The Ann Arbor Area Youth Council (another teen-driven entity in the Ann Arbor area) made the first official grant to the Neutral Zone, along with one of our marvelous long-time supporters, Molly Dobson.
Teens play a central role in the decision-making, planning and management of the Neutral Zone's workshops and programs, how has this benefited your organization and your local community of youth?
When teens run programs and the organization, it belongs to them and they want to keep coming back (and bringing others!). Our Teen Advisory Council (an official Board Committee) makes all program decisions at the Neutral Zone. When someone, adult or teen, wants to start a new program it is vetted by TAC. That way we ensure that the programs we offer are of interest to teens (not programs offered by adults who think they know what teens want). TAC also fundraises $3,000-5000 each year and makes grants to other programs who have special needs or projects.
Finally TAC runs the annual program evaluation, surveying teens and running focus groups and writing a report and making a presentation to the Board. Nearly half of our Board members are teens (14 out of 29, currently). These teens serve in the highest levels of policy and governance – approving budgets, making policy, fundraising, AND hiring or firing me! When teens have such a strong voice throughout the organization, it becomes their own (something that school often doesn’t feel like). Moreover, all of these leadership roles played by teens allows them to develop 21st Century Skills (communication, critical thinking, collaboration) – again something they often don’t get in school. Our motto is “a place for teens by teens”!
Where do you find inspiration for your outreach programs and workshops?
Inspiration comes from the teens! When you see the incredible work they do – performing a poem, making a presentation to a donor, cutting a new release in our music studio, teaching middle school teens about diversity – I definitely get inspired. I think wow, I was definitely not that competent or creative or talented when I was in high school (and am still not) – and to know that what I do in my job as executive director to help keep these opportunities growing for these incredible teens, that is inspiring!
The Neutral Zone provides a vast array of hands-on workshops for youth; everything from music production and screen printing, to youth leadership clubs and SAT preparation. How do you tackle the scheduling and management of your programs?
First of all, if the teens want to do it, we try to support them to make it happen. Then we share the responsibility for making it happen on them. They have to fundraise to build a new space to house their enterprise project, or they have to go present to the community foundation to keep the internship program going. Also, the Neutral Zone has the world’s most talented and dedicated staff! The brains (and brawn!) of the programs is Lori, our Associate Executive Director. Lori and all of the other staff can get it done if the teens want to do it.
Do you collaborate with local professionals to help develop your programs and mentor youth?
We have a lot of fabulous partnerships with people and organizations that help us build capacity and provide opportunities for teens. We have guest artists who come over from the University of Michigan art school to teach teens visual arts. We have the most incredible partnership with the University Musical Society to put on this incredible show called Breakin Curfew each May. The Musical Society staff take our teens under their wings and teach them about all aspects of putting on a professional performance – lighting, staging, marketing, everything! Our staff are professionals in the areas in which they support.
Ingrid, our Music Coordinator has been in a variety of well known bands (including Nomo), which brings her a lot of street cred when working with teens. Mike, who run our MC Workshop, performs all over the Midwest in his collective Tree City. Jeff Kass, our Literary Arts Director, is well known poet and writer, as is Scott Beal who runs short story workshop. Trevor, our Visual Arts Director, has a teaching degree and M.A., and goes to Chicago monthly to present at the Museum of Modern Art. As I said – an incredibly talented bunch!
From a teen's perspective: What is it like to be part of the Neutral Zone? How has the Neutral Zone impacted your life? Has it had a great effect on the community of Ann Arbor and how locals see youth?
There is a terrific community attitude at the Neutral Zone. There are so many people that are interested in helping you succeed. If you are devoted to creating something there are people with the know-how, resources, and will power to help you make it happen. Through the discussions I have and the actions I take, the Neutral Zone has really made me a more confident person. I find myself consistently taking on leadership roles not only in the organization but in my daily life that actively shape who I will become as an adult. Often when I explain what I do on a daily basis at the Neutral Zone to an adult I can see in their eyes that they are impressed.
Impressed that I am running a record label as a sixteen-year-old, or that I raised 4200 dollars in a single event as a sixteen year old, or that I booked a touring band from New York City to come and play at my venue and was able to pay them 250 dollars from door profits as a sixteen-year-old. This list of things that I have been able to do at the Neutral Zone goes on for me, but the most impressive thing is that there are hundreds of teens also active in many of these things at the Neutral Zone. Each of them is helping to shed the myth that teens are any less capable than adults.
Ryan Shea, Sophomore Community High School, Ann Arbor
What's next for the Neutral Zone?
Don’t ask me, whatever the teens want! On top of that we are involved in a project to share our practice with other teen programs around Michigan. I hope that work continues, not only because its important to help all youth programs be teen-driven, but our teens are going out and consulting and training – what a fabulous opportunity for them!
The Neutral Zone has become a national model for youth outreach programs, What advice would you give to those who are looking to launch a vibrant youth lead, youth center?
Don’t wait to get the teens involved in the planning, start from the very beginning! When we get calls from people wanting to visit, I ask them “how many teens will you be coming with”. The expectation should be that if people are starting or renewing their programs, especially based on the tenet of being youth-driven, they have to involved teens! Also, at least as far as communities in some states go (like MI or CA), get help from your local community foundation. Community Foundations are not only places to get money, they are connected to people of influence, know the community well, and know people in the community with money who might be interested in your cause. In Michigan every community foundation has a youth council, and these are great entities to go to for support.
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